Hoof trimmer



Sept. 26, 1950 P. H. HOWE 2,523,368

HOOF TRIMMER Filed June 15, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR. Pafrichf Howe tiorne 5 P. H. HOWE HOOF TRIMMER Sept. 26, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 15, 1948 INVENTOR. iekffilfowe Pair Patented Sept. 26, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOOF TRIMMER Patrick H. Howe, Jamaica, N. Y.

Application June 15, 1948, Serial No. 33,113

1 Claim.

This invention relates to the art of horseshoeing and more particularly to the art of trimming a foot prior to the actual application of a shoe. Race horses are shod approximately every two or three weeks and as a result it is most important that the foot be properly prepared to receive the shoe. It has been found that the angle of the foot, that is, the angle of the toe with relation to the ground when the foot is flat on the ground, has a great deal to do with the speed of particular animals. In other words, certain animals will grip more firmly with the toes while others will run more nearly flatfooted. The art of shoeing and particularly the art of shoeing race horses is a very technical one and requires very skilled horse shoers. This is particularly true in the art of trimming the foot.

An object of this invention is to provide a device which will accurately and quickly trim the foot at any predetermined angle and to any predetermined depth. A particular object of the invention is to provide means for performing this operation quickly so as not to require the animals to stand on three legs for a prolonged period of time.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of my invention is provided.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the device embodying my invention partly in cross-section.

Fig. 2 is a top plan View thereof.

Fig. 3 is a detailed view of one end of the adjustable fork member.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, my invention provides a stand It made of metal or other sturdy material having a platform ll rigidly fixed thereto. Mounted on the platform II is a bar I2 on the uprights I3 upon which rests a U-shaped frame I4. The purpose of the frame I 4 is to center the foot and prevent lateral motion of the horses leg. On the back of the frame ii! is a hinge IE to which is hinged the bar It. Mounted on the bar l6 are some thumb screws ll which bear against the platform II and which are adjustable to regulate the angle of the bar l6 with relation to the platform l'l. Hinged to the bar H at 2B is a plate 2| on which is mounted a circular foot rest or plate 22. The surface of the plate 22 is serrated or knurled to provide an irregular surface so that the horses foot is not apt to slip or slide off of it. Extending through the plate 2| is a bolt 24 which likewise extends through the platform H and is held under tension by means of the spring 25 to hold the plate 2| under tension. Directly under the footrest 22 is a socket member 26 containing a rotatable bolt 21 operated by the thumb screw 28. It will be appreciated that with operation of the thumb screw I? and the thumb screw 28 the angle of the plate 2| and the footrest 22 with relationship to the platform II can be readily adjusted. Upon the platform II are two flanges 36 adapted to receive the end 3| of a forked member having a handle 32. The base 33 of the forked member is adapted to contact the front of the foot F to hold the foot firmly in place upon the footrest 22. The base I I has an arcuate cutout portion 35 with an opening 36 at one end. I provide a portable cutting unit 40 which consists of a bearing plate 4! connected to a handle 42. Mounted on the bearing plate is a motor 43 having a shaft 44 extending therethrough. Mounted on the shaft 44 is a cutting blade 45 secured by the nuts 46 and 41. Also mounted on the bearing plate 4| is a stud 48 for limiting the movement of the cutting blade at certain angles, as, for instance, when cutting at the heels the stud 48 may be fulcrumed against the footrest of the platform 22. A switch 49 is provided to control the current flowing to the motor 43. In operation the bearing plate rests on the platform H with the shaft in the arcuate cutout 35. The horses foot is placed upon the footrest 22, the proper angle and depth of the out having been previously determined and the formed member adjusted by engaging the proper tooth 38 in the flange 30 and bringing the portion 33' against the hoof. The blade may then be removed around the rest 22 and the desired amount of the Wall of the foot cut in a matter of seconds.

It will be appreciated that the foot of a nervous horse can be trimmed much more quickly and accurately than where the foot must be held off the ground and his weight on three legs, as heretofore. It will also be appreciated that the exact cutting can be predetermined and that 'a level out can be secured, thus eliminating the need for excessive rasping.

I claim:

A foot trimming device including a platform,

a member hinged to one end of said platform, means for determining the angle of said member with relation to said platform, a footrest hinged to said member and means for adjusting the angle of said footrest with relation to said platform, a portion of the platform being out out to 3 4 define an excuate area, a, cutting element resting UNITED STATES PATENTS on said platform and movable on said arcuate Number Name Date portion and adjustable means for holding a foot 562,526 Grogan June 23, 1896 on said platform. 649,738 Maxwell May 15, 1900 PATRICK H- HOWE- 5 944,432 Haywood Dec. 28, 1909 989,793 Morris A r. 18, 1911 REFERENCES CITED 1,337,571 Stokes A51. 20, 1920 The following references are of record in t e 1,751,816 Hunter Mar. 25, 1930 file of this patent: 2, 99,098 Howe Feb. 28, 1950 

